Parquetry



No. 623,562. Patented Apr. 25, 1899.

6. E. RIDER.

PABOUETRY.

(Application filed. May 8, 1898.)

FIG. 3

I 51 1| Il 5?; i l,| W M WDLni/SAM TINTTan STATES PATENT Prion.

CHARLES E. RIDER, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK.

PARQUETRY.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 623,562, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed May 3, 1898- Serial No. 679,622. (No model.)

To all whom i1; may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. RIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Parquetry, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in parquetry, whereby the cost of making, laying, and finishing said parquetrythat is to say, the total cost of the finished productis greatly reduced and at the same time the quality of the completed work is in like degree enhanced.

My improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being set forth in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, representing parquetry containing my improvements, Figure 1 is a plan View of a single block. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a number of blocks joined to- .gether in my improved method. Fig. 5 is a .may be fully understood by any one skilled in the art, I now proceed to describe in detail the processes involved in the construction of. one of the most popular kinds of parquetry blocks -viz., a block eight inches square and five-sixteenths thick. I take a piece of lumber two inches wide and five-sixteenths thick and cut therefrom four rectangular pieces each eight inches long. I make in each end of each strip a saw-kerf about 0. 03 inch wide and about 0.25 inch deep parallel with and preferably about midway between the two surfaces of the strip. Having assembled these strips to form a square, I insert into the groove in each end of the square a piece of steel about seven inches long, 0.5 inch wide, and 0.035 inch thick, driving the steel tightly into the groove. This leaves the grooves beyond each end of the steel unfilled for about half an inch and provides the square with tongues blind nailing, or they may be left entire, if other means of fixation are used in laying the work. In each of the other two edges of the square and in the same plane with the grooves already formed I then cut a groove about- O.'O4 inch wide and 0.25 inch deep, these grooves being designed to receive the tongues projecting from the end grain edges of the adjacent blocks when laying the work for use, such blocks being habitually laid alternatelythat is to say, with the grain of each block running at right angles to that of each adjacent block.

In the accompanying drawings I have representeda single block A in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, provided on its opposite edges with the grooves B B cut in the end grain and having the projecting metallic strips or tongpesg C i serted tightlytliereln and with the wider grooves D D on the other edges. In Fig. 4. I have represented two compound blocks connected together by the projecting tongues and the grooves already described. In Fig. 5 I have represented a floorin g-strip E, provided with a groove F along one edge, .into which the metallic tongue II is tightlyinserted, and with a wider groove I on the opposite edge.

It will be seen that the tongues and grooves above described serve the double purpose, first, of joining the strips to form a firm and portable square or block, and, second, of joining the square to its fellows in laying the work. It will also be readily seen that the former purpose demands a driving fit of the tongue in the groove, while the latter exacts a relatively loose fit. To the rapid and economical laying of flooring there is hardly anything more obstructive than tightly-fitting tongues.

It will be noticed that the tongue is made only about seven inches long, while it might be made half an inch longer. The shorter dimension is chosen in order that the square may be halved diagonally without having to cut through the steel. These squares are laid also to blocks of any desired thickness. In the case of parquetry of adequate thickness the strips within the block maybe further joined to each other by tongue and groove, by dowels, or by any other suitable means.

An equivalent method of serving the purposes above specified consists in the use of a projecting metallic tongue slightly thicker on one edge, this edge being inserted tightly into the groove cut across the grain, while the thinner projecting edge serves for insertion, in laying, into the groove cut parallel with the grain. By this method the grooves may all be of equal width. In Fig. 6 l have shown in cross-section one form of such a tongue.

I elaim 1. A quadrangular parquetry block compounded of a plurality of pieces of wood, said block having grooves on all four edges; the grooves cut across the grain of the wood of the pieces at their ends being narrower than the grooves cut parallel with the grain in the sides of the outer pieces, in combination with projecting metallic tongues fitted tightly in the narrow grooves, substantially as de-.

scribed.

2. A parquetry block consistingof one piece of wood having grooves on all four edges, the grooves cut across the grain being narrower than the grooves cut parallel with the grain, said narrower grooves having inserted in them projecting metallic tongues somewhat shorter than the distance between the bottom of the grooves in the other two edges, substantially as described.

3. A quadrangular parquetry block compounded of two or more pieces, of Wood; said block having grooves on all four edges; the grooves cut across the grain of the wood being narrower than the grooves cut parallel with the grain; said narrower grooves having inserted in them projecting metallic tongues; said tongues being somewhat shorter than the distance between the bottom of the grooves in the other two edges, substantially as described.

4. A quadrangular parquetry block, 0011- sisting of one or more pieces of wood, having grooves on all four edges and provided with projecting metallic tongues inserted tightly in the grooves cut across the grain, the projeeting part of the tongues being adjusted to lit more loosely into the grooves out parallel with the grain, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. RIDER.

Witnesses:

GEO. l3. SELDEN, II. C. II. COOPER. 

